Pre-Order Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir and get an enamel pin as well as the black-stain edge

Lookee what we were able to score for you! These cool enamel pins when you pre-order Nona the Ninth, releasing September 13th! Also, we will be able to get at least 10 of the limited edition copies with the black-stain edges. Since we only have a limited number, we are only allowing one per household.

About Nona the Ninth

The Locked Tomb returns with a third volume, bringing all the chaotic sapphic skeleton action that has made the series a bestseller.
Tamsyn Muir’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling Locked Tomb Series continues with Nona …the Ninth?

Her city is under siege.

The zombies are coming back.

And all Nona wants is a birthday party.

In many ways, Nona is like other people. She lives with her family, has a job at her local school, and loves walks on the beach and meeting new dogs. But Nona’s not like other people. Six months ago she woke up in a stranger’s body, and she’s afraid she might have to give it back.

The whole city is falling to pieces. A monstrous blue sphere hangs on the horizon, ready to tear the planet apart. Blood of Eden forces have surrounded the last Cohort facility and wait for the Emperor Undying to come calling. Their leaders want Nona to be the weapon that will save them from the Nine Houses. Nona would prefer to live an ordinary life with the people she loves, with Pyrrha and Camilla and Palamedes, but she also knows that nothing lasts forever.

And each night, Nona dreams of a woman with a skull-painted face…

New Releases – November 16, 2021

Aimee here with the latest new releases coming to The Haunted Book Shop this week! We always have books we’re excited about, but this week features a couple staff highlights as well as some signed copies!

Romance

Olivia Dade is back with her latest All the Feels! Alexander Woodroe is known for his charm, good looks, and starpower as Cupid on the hit show God of the Gates. But when a bar fight lands him in hot water and he becomes tabloid fodder, it’s decided he needs some sort of minder. Enter Lauren Clegg, the former ER therapist hired to keep Alex in line. Check out what happens next in a book HBS’ own Angela called, “Another grand slam for Olivia Dade who continues to do a wonderful job of combining a fun, entertaining story with all the feels.”

An Heiress’s Guide to Deception and Desire is the latest from Manda Collins following A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem! It’s 1867 in England and Miss Caroline Hargrove, one half of the duo behind England’s most infamous crime column, faces a crisis. Her dear friend has been kidnapped and to solve the mystery, Caro must team up with Lord Valentine Thorn, the man who broke her heart. What will happen as they get closer to finding the culprit? Guess you’ll have to pick up a copy (perhaps a signed one? We have some in the shop!) and find out!

In The Hookup Dilemma by Constance Gillam, Rashida, an aspiring restauranteur, thinks she has found the perfect space for her restaurant. But the steep asking price might be too much to overcome. That is, until a chance encounter with Elliott, the heir to an architecture empire. Elliott could be the perfect partner for Rashida’s restaurant, and the investment could be what Elliott needs to turn his father’s business around. But when others from their respective pasts find out about the building, it could send the arrangement, and a potential romance, into a freefall.

Science Fiction

Even Greater Mistakes: Stories is a collection of short fiction from bestselling author Charlie Jane Anders. There’s the woman who can see all the possible branching futures is dating the man who can see the one and only foreordained future, and a wildly popular slapstick filmmaker is drawn, against his better judgment, into working with a fascist militia, against a background of social collapse, among other fascinating stories featuring intriguing characters. The stories collected here upend genre cliches, revitalize classic tropes and provide biting social commentary through humor and heightened realism.

Noor by Nnedi Okorafor takes place in a postapocalyptic Africa. Anwuli Okwudili prefers to be called AO. To her, these initials have always stood for Artificial Organism. Born with physical deformities, AO faced more physical challenges following a car accident. Yet instead of viewing her strange body the way the world views it, as freakish, unnatural, even the work of the devil, AO embraces all that she is: A woman with a ton of major and necessary body augmentations. When a trip to the market goes wrong, AO finds herself on the run with DNA, a Fulani herdsman, as they race against time across the desert. In a world where all things are streamed, everyone is watching the “reckoning of the murderess and the terrorist” and the “saga of the wicked woman and mad man” unfold. 

Thriller

Termination Shock is a technothriller from bestselling author Neal Stephenson that tackles climate change and the man-made forces that shape our present and future. One man has a Big Idea for reversing global warming, a master plan perhaps best described as “elemental.” But will it work? And just as important, what are the consequences for the planet and all of humanity should it be applied? Pick up a copy and find out – maybe even one of the signed copies we have in stock!

Young Adult

The Nobleman’s Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks is the conclusion to Mackenzi Lee’s Montague Siblings trilogy! Adrian Montague has a bright future ahead, not to mention he is the sole heir to his father’s vast estate. But he also secretly suffers from debilitating anxiety, and the strain of trying to keep that hidden threatens to thwart his future. In the wake of his mother’s unexpected death, Adrian is also concerned people will find out that he has the mental illness she struggled with for years. When a newly found keepsake of hers—a piece of a broken spyglass—comes into Adrian’s possession, he’s thrust into the past and finds himself face to face Monty and Felicity, siblings he never knew he had. Come along as they try to unravel family secrets and mysteries.

Kids

One of your favorite superheroes is back with a new collection of stories perfect for younger fans! Marvel-Verse: Spider-Man features enjoy a modern spin on Spidey’s classic origin tale of power and responsibility, as a spider bite transforms the life of unpopular teen Peter Parker — for better and worse! Other stories find Spider-Man trying to save Aunt May and fighting villains like Doc Ock, Kraven the Hunter, Mysterio, and more from the Sinister Six!

Nature’s Treasures by Ben Hoare features over 100 objects from the natural world and tells the stories behind them! Learn how huge whales eat tiny animals from looking at their bristly teeth, why butterflies shine and glitter in the sunlight from seeing their minute wing scales, how plants transport water and food around from examining a delicate leaf skeleton, and what makes every snowflake unique from admiring their miniature, branching crystals of ice. And that is just four of the stories in this gorgeous collection! A perfect gift for the curious, outdoor-loving child!

Photography

Dogs on the Trail: A Year in the Life is a photographic account of professional mushers Blair Braverman’s and Quince Mountain’s sled dog team! With gorgeous photos from Braverman’s Twitter feed, follow along from the beginning of fall to training on dry land and snow, camping and racing, the spring muddy season, and summer puppies! The book ends on a beginning, in anticipation of the adventurous lives that the new pups have in store.

Entertainment

Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Betty White: 100 Years of Wisdom from the First Lady of Television celebrates America’s sweetheart Betty White ahead of her 100th birthday in January 2022! In a television career spanning more than 80 years, Betty experienced the highs and lows of the industry with her signature wit and kindness. This book helps readers address their own real-life challenges by examining how Betty would have done so with kindness, forthrightness, and good humor.

As a HUGE fan of The Office, I have been SO EXCITED for Welcome to Dunder Mifflin: The Ultimate Oral History of The Office! Brian Baumgartner (aka Kevin) conducted a series of interviews for his podcast The Oral History of The Office. Those interviews with the cast and crew were compiled into this book with never-before-seen photos that tell the behind-the-scenes stories of this classic sitcom. Relive your favorite moments, maybe with a Pretzel Day pretzel or some of Kevin’s famous chili. This is the perfect gift for Office fans!

Social Sciences

Ever wanted to learn more about a subject like, say, anthropology, but became overwhelmed by the number of materials out there? Enter the latest in the Degree in a Book series, Anthropology: Everything You Need to Know to Master the Subject – in One Book! Dive deep into the study of human culture and societies with this book perfect for students and newcomers alike.

History

Check out this gorgeous hardback edition of the classic Japanese text The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi! The undefeated swordsman Musashi wrote five scrolls describing the “true principles” required for victory in the martial arts and on the battlefield. This edition features gold embossing and gilded page edges

Another classic text now available in this gorgeous hardback edition, The Way of the Samurai by Inazo Nitobe reveals the greater depths found in samurai culture; they were not simply warriors but an aristocratic class who practiced literary and military arts in equal measure. This edition features gold embossing and gilded page edges as well.

Food & Drink

Taste Makers: Seven Immigrant Women Who Revolutionized Food in America by Mayukh Sen traces America’s culinary history through the lives of seven immigrant chefs and food writers. This group biography stretches from World War II to the present, tracing the stories of women like Mexican-born Elena Zelayeta, a blind chef; Marcella Hazan, the deity of Italian cuisine; and Norma Shirley, a champion of Jamaican dishes, in vivid and empathetic detail. Taste Makers will challenge the way readers look at what’s on their plate—and the women whose labor, overlooked for so long, makes those meals possible

Body, Mind, & Spirit

The Wild Unknown Pocket Tarot Deck and Guidebook takes Kim Krans’ bestselling deck and puts it into a pocket-sized tin for easy portability. Featuring the same hand-drawn imagery in Krans’ iconic, mystical style, this will introduce a new audience to the magic of the tarot and is a keepsake collectible sure to delight Krans’ longtime fans. 

Visit our website for information on these titles and more! And don’t forget – if we don’t have a book in stock we are more than happy to order it for you, or you can visit our Bookshop page!

We hope to see you soon!

New Releases – October 26, 2021

It’s the last Tuesday of the month and we’re sending October off with some great books at The Haunted Book Shop!

Kids

We know a lot of Wimpy Kid fans will be excited about this! Jeff Kinney is back with Diary of a Wimpy Kid #16: Big Shot! After a disastrous performance at field day, Greg decides it’s time to retire from sports. But when his mom convinces him to try out for basketball, Greg finds himself with a spot on the worst team. Will they even win a game? Will Greg make a shot?

Bestselling author Rick Riordan brings readers on an adventure in Daughter of the Deep, his modern take on Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. When high school freshman Ana and her classmates witness a terrible accident on their way to their big trial at sea, Ana has no idea that they found their way into fighting a war with a rival school that threatens to turn them into fish food. Riordan fans will enjoy this tale full of adventure, intrigue, and a little humor.

Dinosaur Ultimate Handbook is THE guide for the dinosaur-loving curious kid in your life! Containing a complete list of all dinosaur species found to date, this guide includes statistics, illustrations, information on habitats and diet, and comparison charts to help determine your Stegosaurus from your Spinosaurus, Jurassic from Triassic, and carnivores from herbivores!

“While kids write notes to Santa Claus, Sharks line up for Santa Jaws. They tell him all their Christmas wishes. Santa thinks they sound delicious!”

So begins Santa Jaws by Bridget Heos and Galia Bernstein! Santa Jaws celebrates Christmas under the sea, delivering presents and spreading cheer to all his fellow sharks. Kids will enjoy this new twist on classic holiday traditions!

Horror

I know we just talked about a Christmas book but it IS still Halloween season and we have some spooky stuff coming out this week, starting with Vampire Hunter D Omnibus: Book 1! It is 12,090 A.D. and the aristocratic vampire lords known as Nobles have inherited the world. The Nobles are hunted by the one who is half them—a dhampir, the unearthly beautiful wanderer known as D. This collection brings together the first three volumes in author Hideyuki Kikuchi’s adventure horror series: Vampire Hunter DRaiser of Gales, and Demon Deathchase. Illustrated by Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano, this book will bring you into the story from the beginning!

Travel

Atlas of Dark Destinations by Peter Hohenhaus is perfect for those travel enthusiasts who like to add a little fright to their adventures! Hohenhaus visited and photographed all 300 places featured in the book and brings his knowledge and expertise to every page. From nuclear bunkers to eerie catacombs and more, those interested in dark tourism will be packing up the suitcase and setting off on their next eerie adventure soon after reading this book!

Fun & Games

If you want something a little calmer to do this Halloween, maybe staying home with this World of Dracula Puzzle is for you! This 1000 piece puzzle features gorgeous illustrations by Adam Simpson of all your favorite characters and key scenes from the story. Put a Dracula audiobook on your headphones and eat your Halloween candy as you put the pieces of this puzzle together!

Fantasy

Rhythm of War is the latest book in bestselling author Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive Series! Book 4 picks up with Dalinar Kholin and his Knights Radiant having spent a year fighting a protracted, brutal war. With neither side gaining any advantage, new technological discoveries by Kholin’s scholars could change the face of the war. But the enemy may have other plans in the form of a bold and dangerous operation. That’s not all the action – the Windrunners are facing their own problems. As more and more deadly enemy Fused awaken to wage war, no more honorspren are willing to bond with humans to increase the number of Radiants.

Science Fiction

The Wandering Earth brings together ten of Cixin Liu’s short stories into this collection that together are a “blazingly original ode to planet Earth, its pasts, and its futures.” Liu’s stories take readers to the edge of the universe and to the end of time with characters who attempt to reason, navigate, and survive in an unknown, punishing world. This collection includes the title story, which is the basis for a movie now streaming on Netflix.

Mystery

Award-winning journalist Tamron Hall kicks off a thrilling new mystery series with As the Wicked Watch. Jordan Manning is a crime reporter who leaves her Texas hometown to take a job at a Chicago TV station. Known for being first on the scene, Jordan tries to do two things in her work – break the big stories and give voice to the voiceless. As she is trying to establish herself (and navigate a tumultuous personal life) Jordan finds herself covering the murders of two assaulted young girls. Suspecting the murders are connected, Jordan must unravel the disturbing mysteries surrounding the deaths, deemed the work of a serial killer terrorizing Chicago.

Humor

Need a break from the kiddos? Horizontal Parenting: How to Entertain Your Kid While Lying Down is the laugh-out-loud book from Michelle Woo that features” 50 hilarious and effective activities designed to entertain kids while you lie down.” With games like “What’s on my Butt? and “Railroad to Relaxation,” parents everywhere will get a laugh out of Woo’s ideas and Dasha Tolstikova’s hilarious illustrations. And who knows, maybe the kids will be entertained after all!

Mind & Body

Now available in paperback, Juliet Diaz’s Plant Witchery “initiates readers following the current witchy trends of herbal medicine and magic into a deeper, wilder connection with the ancient healing power of over 200 plants.” Readers will learn about the essential, magical, and medicinal properties of herbs, flowers, trees, and fruits along with rituals, spells, potions and more.

Visit our website for information on these titles and more! And don’t forget – if we don’t have a book in stock we are more than happy to order it for you, or you can visit our Bookshop page!

We hope to see you soon!

New Releases – October 19, 2021

When your birthday falls on a Tuesday (AKA, New Release Day) like mine (Aimee’s) does today, it’s like getting a ton of gifts from the book universe. Take a look at what special surprises came to The Haunted Book Shop this week!

Local Author Release!

We are so excited for local author Gabriella Saab’s debut novel The Last Checkmate! If you binged The Queen’s Gambit earlier this year, you will love this book! Maria, a young Polish resistance worker imprisoned in Auschwitz during World War II, plays chess matches to spare her life. In doing so, she fights to bring the man who destroyed her family to justice. Gabriella was so gracious to provide The Haunted Book Shop with signed copies of The Last Checkmate, so be sure to come by (or order) a copy!

Fiction

When you work in a shop with a name like The Haunted Book Shop, it’s no surprise that people come in wanting spooky, haunting ghost stories. The Wrong Turning: Encounters with Ghosts is sure to fit that bill! Edited by Stephen Johnson, this collection includes stories of ghostly encounters spanning world literature, from Europe to Russia, from the United States to China. Enjoy old favorites and discover new scary stories in this collection!

Fans of C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe will find familiar characters and questions in Patti Callahan’s Once Upon a Wardrobe. Megs Devonshire is driven to solve the great mysteries of physics, with her talents with numbers and equations taking her all the way to Oxford on a scholarship. But with her beloved younger brother George facing a terminal illness, Megs finds herself seeking answers for George that defy logic – namely, where Narnia, the land from George’s favorite book, came from. Follow along as Megs searches for answers and hope in this story about sibling bonds and family love.

Horror

A creepy story of a haunted house and steeped in Japanese folklore, Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw is a spine-tingling adventure that will stay with you long after the book ends. A bride-to-be has always dreamed of getting married in a haunted house and jumps at the chance to spend a weekend with friends in an abandoned Heian mansion rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a woman whose fiancé died before they could marry. The woman buried herself alive and forces a girl to be buried with her every year to keep her company. As the weekend devolves from fun and games into something more sinister, it seems that there might be more to the story than just rumors. Readers are sure to squirm at this lyrical, twisting story of grief, relationships, and the consequences of our actions.

Romance

Jen DeLuca’s Well Matched find soon-to-be empty nester (and single mom) April Parker looking to move on from her little town. She calls on old friend Mitch Malone to help her get the house ready to sell. Mitch agrees – as long as April will go with him to a family dinner and pretend to be his girlfriend. After dinner turns into a weekend, the plan goes off without a hitch and the two return to real life. But when April volunteers at the local Ren Faire (where Mitch is known for his kilt and toned abs) and runs into Mitch’s family, the game is on again. But could there actually be something here? You’ll have to pick up a copy and find out!

Science Fiction

Now available in paperback, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini finds main character Kira on a routine space mission to an uncolonized planet. When she discovers an alien relic she is initially excited, but excitement soon turns to fear as the ancient dust around her begins to move. Soon war breaks out among the stars and Kira must grapple with her own horrors as Earth and its colonies face annihilation.

Manga

It’s near impossible to defeat a mighty hero who won’t stay dead, as Monster Guild: The Dark Lord’s (No-Good) Comeback Vol. 1 shows us. The Dark Lord is stuck in a loop where he battles a good guy who won’t stay dead, and he finally loses the fight and meets his own end…or so it would seem. The Dark Lord actually saved himself by putting his soul into an empty vessel, and now he’s about to stage his own comeback. Weak but determined, he recruits his newfound fellowship of misfits—a slime, an orc, an ifrit, and a dark elf— to help him rebuild his evil empire, one bumbling step at a time.

Young Adult

I think I’ll let The Haunted Book Shop’s Candice introduce Lauren Blackwood’s Within These Wicked Walls: “I had immediate grabby hands for this debut when I learned it combined Jane Eyre gothic chills with Ethiopian Evil Eye folklore.” Andromeda was trained as as a debtera — an exorcist who cleanses houses of evil spirits — though her mentor refuses to license her officially. When the handsome young heir Magnus Rochester reaches out to hire her, she jumps at the chance. But the house, and Magnus, are hiding secrets far beyond what Andromeda ever imagined. Beginning to fall in love with Magnus, Andromeda knows that staying means risking death. But leaving doesn’t feel like an option either. See what happens in this engrossing fantasy retelling of a classic story!

Kids

Caela Carter’s Fifty-Four Things Wrong with Gwendolyn Rogers is a young girl named – what else- Gwendolyn Rogers. Gwendolyn has a lot of problems but no one seems to be able to get to the bottom of them. But Gwendolyn knows there is not just one problem, but 54 problems, according to a confidential school report she found while snooping. If she wants to go to horse camp with her half-brother Tyler, Gwendolyn must figure out how get these 54 problems under control. Follow along as Gwendolyn finds her way in this personal story of patience, support, and determination in finding a diagnosis for developmental issues that oftentimes get ignored.

The latest entry in the popular Who Would Win? series, Ultimate Reptile Rumble pits sixteen different reptiles against each other in one epic fight! Readers will learn about each reptile’s anatomy, behavior and more through photos, illustrations, and facts. You’ll be excited to see who comes out on top!

Join Phoebe on her latest adventure in Unicorn Playlist: Another Phoebe and Her Unicorn Adventure! Best friends Phoebe and Marigold march to their own beat, but it isn’t all rainbows and unicorns for the pair. With drama at school and the other problems of the world, Phoebe doesn’t understand why unicorns can’t be in charge of the world instead of people. But Marigold brings magic to every day, introducing Phoebe to unicorn magic, crashing a goblin party, and finding long-lost family members like Infernus, the (surprisingly adorable) Unicorn of Death. Come along with this dynamic duo as they play all the hits!

Non-Fiction

In 2013, film and culture critic Zeba Blay was one of the first people to coin the viral term #carefreeblackgirls on Twitter. As she says, it was “a way to carve out a space of celebration and freedom for Black women online.” In Carefree Black Girls: A Celebration of Black Women in Popular Culture, Blay expands on this idea through a series of essays that examine “the work and lasting achievements of influential Black women in American culture–writers, artists, actresses, dancers, hip-hop stars–whose contributions often come in the face of bigotry, misogyny, and stereotypes.”

Humor

I don’t think I could introduce Megan Lynn Kott’s Pawmistry: Unlocking the Secrets of the Universe with Cats better than this: It is a “tongue-in-cheek guide to the feline oracle and the supernatural signs your cat may leave behind…this playful and informative book offers instruction in a number of types of divination to practice with your cat, where messages and portents may be delivered by scattered cat toys, particular tail positions, and sleeping on your face.” Intrigued? Wondering what messages your cat might be trying to tell you? Better pick up a copy today!

Fun & Games

Austen fans will enjoy playing their favorite card games with these Jane Austen Playing Cards! Featuring gorgeous illustrations of all your favorite characters, the traditional four suits are themed on character traits, with hearts for Heroes and Heroines (like Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy) and spades for Fools and Bores. The pack also includes instructions for playing some of the card games featured in Austen’s novels!

Mind & Body

Discover how to use the moon as a cosmic timer with Moonology Manifestations, a magical 48-card oracle from bestselling Moonologer Yasmin Boland. Featuring beautiful cosmic collage imagery, each card explains what you’re bringing into your life, and how and when to supercharge your manifesting powers to achieve what you most desire. 

Visit our website for information on these titles and more! And don’t forget – if we don’t have a book in stock we are more than happy to order it for you, or you can visit our Bookshop page!

We hope to see you soon!

New Releases – October 12, 2021

Aimee here with your latest batch of new releases coming this week to The Haunted Book Shop!

Local Author Release!

Chompsey Chomps Books is the latest children’s book from The Haunted Book Shop’s own Candice Marley Connor! Chompsey is great at many things, like chomping and weaving flower crowns. But reading is hard for him – why do the words and letters not stay on the page? A discouraged Chompsey chomps at words as they fly away. How will he ever get the words to stay still and make sense? This book is Dyslexic inclusive; it is printed in a font that everyone can read, including people with dyslexia. For more info about the font, please visit www.Dyslexiefont.com. And join Chompsey on his reading adventure!

Fiction

Alice Hoffman concludes her Practical Magic series with The Book of Magic! The Owens family has been cursed when it comes to love for nearly 300 years, but it seems like that may be about to change. An attempt to save a man’s life brings together three generations of Owens women, and one long-lost brother, as they travel from Paris to London to the English countryside to come together and break the curse. Revisit your favorite characters and enjoy this breathtaking conclusion to an amazing story!

Described as a “serio-comic semi-autobigraphical thriller,” former Star Trek: The Next Generation actor Brent Spiner took his on-set experiences and turned them into Fan Fiction: A Mem-Noir Inspired by True Events, a “zany…love letter to fandom.” Fans of Star Trek are sure to enjoy cameos from LeVar Burton, Patrick Stewart, and other well-known characters, while non-fans may just enjoy laughing along with Spiner’s adventures.

Suspense/Thriller

In Kat Rosenfield’s No One Will Miss Her, town pariah Lizzie Oullette is dead – and her husband, Dwayne, is nowhere to be found. As Detective Ian Bird investigates, Lizzie narrates from beyond the grave as an unexpected lead takes the detective to the big city to meet Adrienne Richards – social media influencer, wife of a disgraced billionaire, and renter of Lizzie’s lake house. Described as “a Gone Girl for the gig economy,” readers will enjoy seeing the twists, turns, and connections between Lizzie and Adrienne.

Silverview is the last completed spy novel by the late John le Carré. Julian Lawndsley has left the big city for a simple life running a small bookshop in the English countryside. But when Edward, a Polish émigré living in Silverview, appears on Julian’s doorstep, he seems to know a little too much about Julian’s life – and is a little too curious about his new venture. Things intensify when a mysterious letter outlining a dangerous leak brings a spy chief from London into the sleepy town.

State of Terror is an international thriller co-authored by the unique team of former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and bestselling novelist Louise Penny. Secretary of State Ellen Adams was a surprising choice for the job, seeing as she was one of the harshest critics of the new president. When a baffling text message sets off a chain reaction of threats and terrorist attacks, the untested Ellen must convene an unusual team of state department experts, journalists, and a young FSO to take down this intricate and carefully constructed conspiracy.

True Crime

A Brotherhood Betrayed: The Man Behind the Rise and Fall of Murder, Inc. by Michael Cannell traces the history of the organization by recounting the story of Abe Reles. Reles had been a trusted executioner for Murder, Inc. and he was ready to talk, ratting out his murderous associates in exchange for police protection. But before he could stand trial, his shattered body was discovered on the rooftop outside his heavily-guarded hotel room. Did he try to escape…or was it punishment?

Fantasy

Wicked is back on the Broadway stage and Gregory Maguire goes back to Oz with The Brides of Maracoor, the first volume in Maguire’s Another Day series! When Elephaba’s granddaughter, Rain, washes ashore unconscious in a foreign land, with no memory of her past, she is cared for by the seven Brides of Maracoor, a group of women tasked with keeping time moving forward. As the brides debate what to do with Rain, they receive their yearly visit from the island’s civil servant overseer, who is perplexed both by Rain’s physical appearance and her presence on the island. The trilogy will follow Rain as she discovers who she is and how she will find her way back to Oz. Join in the adventure now!

Sci-Fi

The Haunted Book Shop’s own Alex is so excited for Star Wars Visions: Ronin by Emma Mieko Candon! Following a failed rebellion, a former Sith wanders on the edge of the Outer Rim accompanied by a faithful droid and a lightsaber. Not much is known about him, as he keeps quiet about his past. But as the galaxy’s cycle of violence imposes on his self-imposed exile, it becomes evident that he won’t be able to escape his enigmatic past.

Romance

Hidden Sins is the latest re-release from Selena Montgomery, the alter ego of bestselling author and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Stacey Abrams. Mara Reed has been running scams and on the run since she was 18. Hiding out in her small Texas hometown following her latest skirmish, she is facing sure death when she is rescued by a mysterious stranger. Forensic anthropologist Ethan Stuart is investigating a gruesome discovery with links to the church headed by Mara’s father. With him needing help and Mara needing protection, the two team up to search for the truth…if they manage to survive.

Young Adult

Fantasy

The Keeper of the Night is the first book in a planned duology from Kylie Lee Baker. Half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami, Ren Scarborough yearns for acceptance that she never received from the Reapers who raised her. When she is forced to flee for her life, Ren and her younger brother travel to Japan and the dark underworld of Yomi, where Ren finally hopes to feel a sense of belonging. Instead, the Goddess of Death sends Ren on an impossible mission – succeed, and maybe she can earn a place in Death’s services. Come along as Ren learns whether belonging is worth the price.

Kids

The Christmas Pig is a holiday adventure from J.K. Rowling. Jack loves his childhood toy Dur Pig, or DP for short. When DP goes missing at Christmas, Jack teams up with his newest toy (and DP’s replacement) the Christmas Pig and embarks on an incredible journey to find what was lost and save the greatest friend Jack has ever known.

To welcome another person is to make new connections, new friendships, and new ways of viewing the world. A Hundred Thousand Welcomes by Mary Lee Donovan teaches readers how to “welcome!” in twelve different languages. With illustrations from Lian Cho, come along as we learn new ways to share this message of hope and acceptance! The book includes a pronunciation guide, a note from the artist, a note from the author, and information about the languages featured in the book.

Roxy and her friends are back for another adventure in Roxy the Unisaurus Rex Presents: Oh No! The Talent Show, written by Eva Chen with illustrations by Matthew Rivera! Everyone at Roxy and Dexter’s school is excited for the talent show – except Dexter, who feels like he doesn’t have any talent. But with a little help from Roxy, he learns he might just have the best talent of all – being a friend!

Fun & Games

Schitt’s Creek fans, we love this journey for you! Schitt Happens: An Unofficial Coloring Book for Fans of Schitt’s Creek features illustrations by Valentin Ramon of all your favorite scenes. From Moira Rose’s Wall of Wigs, to Cafe Tropical and Rose Apothecary, color along as you venture on your latest series rewatch!

Mind & Body

Also known as Book Four, or Liber ABA, Aleister Crowley’s Four Books of Magick bring together many rituals, received texts, theorems, unequalled insights into the practice of magick, culminating in The Book of the Law, the central, sacred text dictated to Crowley by a preternatural entity. This edition features an introduction from Stephen Skinner, one of the world’s leading experts on Western esoteric traditions and magic, sharing his insights into Crowley’s take on yoga, ceremonial magick and Thelema.

Visit our website for information on these titles and more! And don’t forget – if we don’t have a book in stock we are more than happy to order it for you, or you can visit our Bookshop page!

We hope to see you soon!

New Releases – October 5, 2021

We have so many new releases coming to The Haunted Book Shop this week that I hope our new releases window display can handle them all!

Local Interest

History buffs and foodies alike are sure to enjoy A Culinary Tour Through Alabama History! Author Monica Tapper “serves up a stick-to-your-ribs trek through Alabama history, providing classic recipes modified for the modern kitchen along the way.”

In April 1861, President Lincoln declared a blockade on Southern ports. Engineers built elaborate obstructions and batteries, and three rows of torpedoes were laid from Fort Morgan to Fort Gaines. Then, in August 1864, the inevitable came. A navy fleet of fourteen wooden ships lashed two by two and four iron monitors entered the lower bay, with the USS Tecumseh in the lead. A torpedo, poised to strike for two years, found the Tecumseh and sank it in minutes, taking ninety-three crewmen with it. In The USS Tecumseh in Mobile Bay, David Smithweck takes readers on an exploration of the ship that still lies upside down at the bottom of Mobile Bay.

Fiction

Crossroads is the first book in the highly anticipated A Key to All Mythologies trilogy, Jonathan Franzen’s “magnum opus” that will follow three generations of a Midwestern family from the Vietnam War to the 2020s. In this first volume, readers are introduced to the Hildebrand family of New Prospect, Illinois, outside Chicago – Russ, a pastor and former youth director, his wife Marion, and their four children. All are facing the challenges of life as they approach Christmas 1971.

Dave Eggers’ latest The Every is a “blend [of] satire and terror, while keeping the reader in breathless suspense.” Somehow, Delaney Wells finds herself working for the Every – the combination of the world’s largest search engine/social media site and the largest e-commerce site. And she wants to take it down. But of course, there is more than she bargained for under the surface. This title is available exclusively through independent bookstores and the book’s independent, nonprofit publisher, McSweeney’s produced multiple dust jacket color schemes, many of which we have available!

Being re-released in paperback The Gold Bug Variations by Richard Powers is a double love story of two couples separated by 25 years. When promising microbiologist Stuart Ressler sets out in 1957 to crack the genetic code, he becomes tangled in other codes – social, moral, spiritual, musical – as he falls in love with a member of his research team. Years later, another young couple tries to unravel another mystery: Why did Ressler seemingly just disappear from the science world?

Kids

Robie Rogge and Rachel Isadora created a fun way to learn manners with I Say Please and Thank You: Lift-the-Flap Manners! Join along as the children say hello to a unicorn, share pizza with a gorilla, apologize to an ostrich ballerina, welcome a bear at the door, and wave goodbye to a friend in a hot air balloon! Along the way, each page has a lift-the-flap surprise awaiting readers!

The Secret Lives of Dragons by Prof. Zoya Agnis and Alexander Utkin takes readers into the world of dragons, the scaliest of magical creatures! Explore the details of their wings and the history of their treasure as you learn about famous dragons from around the world. Dragon researchers will introduce dragons from tiny to huge, from sweet to ferocious. If you ever wanted to become a dragon expert, this is the book for you!

Tristan Strong Destroys the World is the second book in Kwame Mbalia’s Tristan Strong trilogy. Now available in paperback, Book 2 picks up with Tristan returning from Alke, the land of African American folk heroes and African gods, to the Strong family farm, where Tristan learns his Nana has been abducted. Tristan must return to Alke and reunite with his sidekick Gum Baby to save his grandmother and stop her captor from creating further devastation.

If Book 2 got you excited, lucky for you Book 3 is also available today! Tristan Strong Keeps Punching sees Tristan reunited with Ayanna and traveling up the Mississippi to face off with his archenemy King Cotton once and for all. But along the way, they encounter new haints who are determined to keep Tristan from returning to his hometown of Chicago.

Comics

Keanu Reeves makes his comic book debut with BRZRKR Vol. 1. Written alongside New York Times bestselling co-writer Matt Kindt and featuring illustrations by Ron Garney, BRZRKR follows B., the mysterious half-mortal, half-God cursed to live a life of violence. He finally finds a refuge working for the U.S. Government doing jobs too dangerous and violent for anyone else. In exchange, B. will learn the truth behind his mysterious existence – and maybe even how to end it.

The Snifter of Terror returns with Edgar Allan Poe’s Snifter of Blood, an all-new “snark-fest” that combines six issues’ worth of anthologies. Stories include an update of “The Tell-Tale Heart” and a take by Tom Peyer and Allan Robinson on “Masque of the Red Death.”

Horror

Jane Shoringfield is looking for a marriage of convenience, someone who will allow her to maintain her independence and continue pursuing work she enjoys. When the handsome but reclusive doctor Augustine Lawrence agrees to the proposal, he puts forward one requirement of his own: Jane must never visit Lindridge Hall, his crumbling family manor outside of town. Of course, when an accident places Jane there at night, she sees Augustine transformed into a fearful man who believes Jane is a spirit come to haunt him. By morning, he is back to himself. Caitlin Starling’s The Death of Jane Lawrence will keep readers turning page after page in this haunting tale!

Originally written as an online serial that reached over 70,000 downloads, John Dies at the End by Jason Pargin has been described as “Horrortacular, an epic of spectacular horror that combines the laugh out loud humor of the best R-rated comedy, with the darkest terror of H.P. Lovecraft.” Follow along as John and David, a pair of slackers suddenly tasked with saving humanity from a drug-induced apocalypse. This updated special edition features additional material and “an even more ‘epic’ epic of slackers versus the occult!”

Sci-Fi

This edition of Robert A. Heinlein’s classic I Will Fear No Evil is published as part of the Science Fiction Classics collection. Follow the story of a supremely talented but immensely old man who, after undergoing the ultimate transplant, discovers his new life comes at a cost.

Another Robert A. Heinlein classic published as part of the Science Fiction Classics collection, Time Enough for Love “follows Lazarus Long through a vast and magnificent timescape of centuries and worlds. Heinlein’s longest and most ambitious work, it is the story of a man so in love with Life that he refused to stop living it, and so in love with Time that he became his own ancestor.”

Fantasy

Fans of V.E. Schwab’s bestselling The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue will love this special collector’s edition! This gorgeous edition features six new pieces of art from Addie’s story new to North American readers, a designed alternate debossed stamp under the cover, a ribbon bookmark, and an exclusive note from Schwab!

Alix E. Harrow’s A Spindle Splintered is a new version of the classic Sleeping Beauty story. Zinnia Gray is turning 21, and it’s a special birthday – it’s the last one she will ever have. Her best friend is determined to make this a birthday to remember with a full sleeping beauty experience. But when Zinnia pricks her finger, she is suddenly transported to another world, with another sleeping beauty desperate to escape her fate.

Young Adult

Fantasy

When the Pirate King dies without an heir, a competition to determine who will take the Bone Crown ensues in Kimberly Vale’s Crossbones. Csilla, Kane, and Lorelei each have their own reasons for wanting to win this deadly treasure hunt and take the crown. But of course, the sea won’t make it easy for anyone to prevail victorious.

Mystery/Thriller

When they meet on a dating app, she thought it might just be a hookup. But then she fell for him, and fell hard. Right when things seem to be going right, he disappears – profiles deleted, phone disconnected, leaving her ghosted. What happened? Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger follows her as she uncovers that there were other girls like her, and girls like her that went missing. Chasing down dark pasts, will she become the predator in this game – or the prey?

Romance

Not Your Average Hot Guy by Gwenda Bond is “a paranormal romantic comedy at the (possible) end of the world.” Callie promised her mother she could handle managing the family’s escape room business for the weekend alone. But she didn’t think a Satanic cult would show up claiming one of the prop spell books in one of rooms is real and they need it to summon the right hand of the devil. As Callie and her best friend Meg get swept up in the adventure, they meet Luke, a hot guy who offers to help them keep the group from at bay. But Luke is actually Luke Morningstar, Prince of Hell and son of the Devil himself. Can Callie, Luke, and Meg keep the group from inciting a global apocalypse?

Historical Fiction

In The Lincoln Highway, eighteen-year-old Emmett, recently released from a juvenile work farm, has one plan – pick up his little brother Billy from the foreclosed family farm and head to California to start anew. But two friends from the work farm have a different idea that will take Emmett in the opposite direction to New York City. Told from multiple perspectives, readers will enjoy seeing how this adventure unfolds from A Gentleman in Moscow‘s Amor Towles.

Classics

The Classic Jane Austen Collection is a must for any Austen fan! This gorgeous boxed set features six collectable paperbacks of Austen’s best-known works, including Sense & Sensibility and Pride & Prejudice. Even if you have read these front to back before, readers will enjoy the new introductions and contemporary cover designs!

Published in English for the first time, The Marquise de Gange is “a neglected Gothic classic by one of the most notorious authors in the literary canon.” Inspired by one of the most shocking crimes of the 17th century, the story follows Euphrasie, a beautiful and virtuous woman admired by the King who falls in love with the young and handsome Alphonse, Marquis de Gange. But inside the castle, sinister forces are conspiring against the young couple. Alphonse’s brothers, the Abbé and the Chevalier, want Euphrasie for themselves.

Biography

Dave Grohl has had a prolific music career, from drumming for Nirvana to forming the Foo Fighters, from jamming with Iggy Pop to drumming for Tom Petty, and everything in between. In The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music, Grohl brings those stories to the page, giving him a chance to shed a little light on what it was like being a musician and living out his dreams and “focusing the lens through which [he] see[s] these memories a little sharper” for fans and readers alike.

Essays

David Sedaris returns with his latest collection of diary entries in A Carnival of Snackery. Spanning from 2003 to 2020, journey along with Sedaris as he records his observations and adventures with his signature wit and humor.

Humor

Hobbies

Looking for a new coloring book that will make you laugh while also acknowledging troublesome double standards and frustratingly familiar acts of sexism? The How to Talk So Men Will Listen: A Coloring Book by Caitlin Peterson is the answer!

Visit our website for information on these titles and more! And don’t forget – if we don’t have a book in stock we are more than happy to order it for you, or you can visit our Bookshop page!

We hope to see you soon!

New Releases – September 21, 2021

If it’s a Tuesday, it’s New Release Day! Check out what we have coming into The Haunted Book Shop this week!

Young Adult

Contemporary

Lori Palmer is the new kid in school, just trying to survive senior year by blending into the background as best she can in a sea of appearance-obsessed peers. Missing her old school, where her artistic talent was celebrated and valued, she meets Jake, a popular jock helping out at her brother’s school. The meeting propels Lori into this new world, where her relationships with her family evolve and her artwork goes in a challenging new direction. With themes of body positivity, family, acceptance, and self-love, Jo Watson’s Big Boned will get readers thinking as they follow Lori’s adventures.

A novel in verse, When We Make It by Elisabet Velasquez is “a love letter to anyone who was taught to believe that they would not make it.” Sarai is an eighth grader and first-generation Puerto Rican growing up in Brooklyn. Along with her older sister Estrella, she navigates family traumas, toxic masculinity, and housing insecurity in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood. While questioning the world around her, Sarai struggles to define and celebrate herself when she has been taught the opposite. Readers will enjoy seeing Sarai’s story unfold.

Fantasy

Now available in paperback, The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix follows Susan Arkshaw, a young girl looking for her missing father in a slightly alternate 1983 London. When Susan meets Merlin, a young left-handed bookseller, she is thrust into a world of magical fighting booksellers who police the mythical Old World as it intrudes upon the modern world.

In She Who Rides the Storm by Caitlin Sangster, four teenagers, each looking for redemption and revenge, attempt to steal a cursed sword rumored to be at the bottom of an ancient shapeshifting king’s tomb. What they find, however, is that some things, including secrets, should stay buried.

Romance

Helena Hunting is back with her latest romance, When Sparks Fly! Avery Spark is living the dream running Spark House, the hotel and event space her family has owned for years. Avery and her sisters have turned it into a premier destination in Colorado Springs; it’s hard work but Avery is happy with work, her friends, and living in her condo with her best friend Declan. But things go awry when Avery is in a car accident that leaves her immobile for weeks. Declan decides he will be her caretaker, and lines long drawn between friendship and romance begin to blur.

Sci-Fi

In the mesmerizing sequel to Gideon the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir continues the story of the penumbral Ninth House in Harrow the Ninth. Full of mystery, murder, magic, and mayhem, fans new and old will eagerly turn pages to see how Harrowhark will handle having the universe on her shoulders.

Fantasy

TJ Klune’s latest novel, Under the Whispering Door, introduces Walter, a ghost who refuses to cross into the afterlife. Walter faces further problems when he realizes he is falling in love with the ferryman sent to escort him to the great beyond.

Memoir

Best-selling author Rick Bragg introduces readers to the poorly behaved, half-blind stray dog who changed his life in The Speckled Beauty: A Dog and His People. Speck has been a destructive force since he first showed up on the ridgeline behind Bragg’s house, starved, half-dead, and “seventy-six pounds of wet hair and poor decisions.” But Speck arrived right when Bragg needed it, helping him through uncertainty and health crises. Readers will enjoy this heartwarming story about the bond between a man and his dog.

Kids

Natalie is back in Absolutely Nat, a companion to Maria Scrivan’s bestselling novel Nat Enough! Nat finds herself at summer camp, where nothing is like it was advertised in the brochure. Instead of spending the summer with her BFFs Zoe and Flo, Nat is stuck at camp with ex-BFF Lily and the horrendous Millie Flatbottom. Constantly pushed out of her comfort zone and facing her fears (and dealing with millions of mosquitos), Nat might find that camp might just be the summer she needs.

With lyrical language accompanied by gorgeous illustrations by Loren Long, Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem by presidential inaugural poet and activist Amanda Gorman will show readers that amazing things can happen when we come together and use our voices and talents.

Ginger the Halloween Witch is back in Merry Witchmas by Petrell Marie Ozbay and Tess La Bella! Ginger may be a witch who crafts spells and flies on her broom, but unlike most witches she loves Christmas! Her biggest wish is that Santa will visit her, but Santa doesn’t believe in witches, even ones like Ginger that delight in good deeds and endless cheer. Will Ginger get her wish? Find out in this fun twist on a holiday story!

In Narwhal on a Sunny Night, book #33 in Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Tree House series, the treehouse takes Jack and Annie to Greenland, where they are tasked with saving a narwhal. Along the way they meet explorer Leif Erikson, who has other ideas aside from helping Jack and Annie.

We get a lot of people into the bookshop asking about tarot cards – if we stock them, books on how to use them, etc. Tarot for Kids, written by Theresa Reed and illustrated by Kailey Whitman, is a kit geared toward middle grade readers ages 8 to 12. With a guidebook and modified deck (the “death” card is “change” here, and “lovers” is “friends”) the kit provides “a resource for advice, decision-making, understanding how to help someone, avoiding drama, creative thinking, and more.”

In Uni and the Perfect Present, Uni is so excited to give Silkie the perfect present – until it gets lost on the way to the party! Can Uni find the gift or is it lost for good? Can she find a different gift? Featuring basic vocabulary and simple sentences perfect for early readers, fans of Uni’s other easy reader books will enjoy seeing how Uni solves the problem in this Level 2 adventure!

The latest book in the popular Who HQ Now series, What is Black Lives Matter? outlines the history of the political and social justice movement known as Black Lives Matter. Readers will learn about the history of the movement that advocates for non-violent civil disobedience and protests against racially-motivated violence against Black people.

Manga

The latest in the Beastars series, Volume 14 continues the story of Beastar horse Yahya, a student at a high school divided into predators and prey. Yahya still holds a vendetta against Komodo dragon Gosha by tormenting his grandson, gray wolf Legoshi. Dwarf rabbit Haru is in college where she finds another herbivore dating a carnivore. Fans of the series will enjoy seeing how the latest adventures play out in this story by Paru Itagaki!

Hobbies

The highly-anticipated follow-up to The Antiquarian Sticker Book, The Antiquarian Sticker Book: Bibliophilia features thousands of gorgeous stickers for anyone who loves the beauty of nature, books, or both! Decorate your journal, stationary, or collage with quotes from your favorite novels. Have fun getting the creative juices flowing!

Visit our website for information on these titles and more! And don’t forget – if we don’t have a book in stock we are more than happy to order it for you, or you can visit our Bookshop page!

We hope to see you soon!

New Releases – September 14, 2021

It’s New Release Day and we have some great reads coming into The Haunted Bookshop!

Young Adult

Fantasy

In this gothic fantasy debut from Cyla Panin, Stalking Shadows follows two sisters, Marie and Ama. Marie mixes and sells perfumes; she hopes it will be enough to establish a dowry for Ama to marry well. Some of her potions are more than just pretty scents in bottles, though, and when things go awry Marie must venture to the mansion where Ama was cursed all those years ago. Come for the mystery, stay for the sisterly bonds!

Mystery/Suspense

Described as “The Haunting of Hill House meets Get Out,” White Smoke is psychological YA thriller from best-selling author Tiffany D. Jackson. Mari doesn’t want to move with her blended family to a new house in Cedarville, and it seems the house doesn’t want her there either. Creepy things begin happening in the house upon arrival. When Mari’s brother almost dies in a fire, she takes it upon herself to investigate the home and the town.

Fiction

Apples Never Fall is the latest from Big Little Lies author Liane Moriarty! The Delaneys are a picture-perfect family, staples in their community. After selling their famed tennis academy, parents Stan and Joy are looking towards retirement and future grandchildren. But underneath the sunny exterior, the two are miserable. When Joy disappears, the four Delaney siblings are split. Two believe Stan had something to do with it, two aren’t so sure. See what happens as the sides square off to solve the mystery.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead is back with Harlem Shuffle, a novel full of heists and shakedowns in 1960s Harlem. To most, Ray Carney is an upstanding citizen, a salesman making a nice life for himself and his family. But there are hidden secrets and the cracks begin to show Ray’s more shady past. As money gets tight, Ray finds himself in over his head. Fans new and old will surely enjoy Whitehead’s blend of family saga and crime novel!

Fantasy

Empire of the Vampire is the first volume in Jay Kristoff’s newest dark fantasy saga. Featuring pages of amazing illustrations, the story follows Gabriel de Leon, the last remaining silversaint, a holy brotherhood dedicated to defending their realm and church from creatures of the night. When Gabriel is imprisoned by these monsters, he realizes he must tell his story of battles, forbidden love, and faith and friendships lost.

Already popular in the U.K., Mordew is the first book in a new inventive and epic fantasy series from Alex Pheby. Nathan is a young boy of lowly station scraping together survival when his mother sells him to the Master of Mordew, a mysterious creature who derives his powers from the corpse of God buried in the catacombs beneath the town. But Nathan has his own strength, a strength greater than the Master’s and a threat to all he has built. As the Mordew begins to scheme against him, Nate must navigate betrayals, secrets, and more in this twisting adventure.

Published for the first time in hardcover, When Sorrows Come is the 15th novel in the award-winning October Daye urban fantasy series. October, better known as “Toby,” is supposed to get married. But the occasion keeps getting delayed as Toby finds herself needing to solve all the kingdom’s problems. When it eventually looks like the wedding will happen, Toby instead must help thwart a plot to overthrow the High Court. This version features an all-new novella from Seanan McGuire that fans are sure to enjoy!

Sci-Fi

Cixin Liu’s To Hold Up the Sky is a short-story collection that takes readers “from the coal mines of China to the final frontier.” The stories will transport readers through time, space, and imagination.

Mystery

Sophie Hannah continues the story of Agatha Christie’s famed detective Hercule Poirot in The Killings at Kingfisher Hill. Poirot receives a call from Richard Devonport, asking him to prove his wife, Helen, is innocent in the murder of his brother, Frank. As Poirot travels to the Kingfisher estate, he faces not only to save Helen from the gallows in a matter of days, but the mystery of another murder that followed a strange incident on the passenger coach. Will Poirot uncover all the secrets? Read to find out!

Romance

A Lot Like Adios is the latest romance from best-selling author Alexis Daria. Michelle may be a talented graphic designer but as a single girl, she’s the black sheep in her marriage-obsessed Puerto Rican-Italian family. When her former best friend and crush Gabe reluctantly comes back to town to open a New York City branch of his popular celebrity gym, Michelle is asked to work on the project. As she tries to keep Gabe at arms length, old feelings resurface. What happens next? Pick up the book and find out!

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood brings together science and romance! Ph.D. candidate Olive Smith doesn’t believe in love but is desperate to get her best friend Anh off her back. In a panic, she kisses the first guy she sees. That guy happens to be Adam Carlsen, a young, hot-shot professor with an arrogant reputation. Olive is amazed when Adam agrees to keep up the dating charade. But of course, nothing goes to plan, even for a team of scientists.

Kids

Grumpy Monkey is bringing us a dose of Christmas in September with Grumpy Monkey: Oh No! Christmas! It’s Christmas time in the jungle but Jim Panzee just can’t get in the holiday spirit. So what is a Grumpy Monkey to do? With the help of his friend Norman, Jim tries to find a way to join the jungle in their joy.

Pete the Cat: Making New Friends by Kimberly and James Dean introduces early readers to the world of graphic novel storytelling and visual literacy! Secret Agent Meow, also known as Pete the Cat, meets a lonely squirrel looking for new friends. The two team up to solve the case in this fun adventure!

Ever wondered what to call a group of elephants or skunks? You’ll learn all that and more in A Troop of Kangaroos: A Book of Animal Group Names, written and illustrated by Lisa Mundorff! Curious kids will love learning fun animal facts accompanied by eye-catching illustrations. And in case you were wondering, it is a parade of elephants and a stench of skunks!

The Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna by Alda P. Dobbs takes place in 1913 during the Mexican Revolution. Twelve-year-old Petra is dealing with the death of her mother when her papa is dragged away by soldiers. Petra vows to care for her siblings, little sister Amelia and baby brother Luisito, and her abuelita until they can be reunited. As the family flees north, Petra holds onto her “barefoot dreams” – those dreams her abuelita says aren’t meant to go far. But Petra refuses to give up.

Last Kids on Earth and the Doomsday Race is the seventh book of the bestselling series from Max Brallier! Jack Sullivan and his gang are headed towards the Tower, a mysterious place where they must finally stop Rezzoch the Ancient, Destructor of Worlds, before he descends upon their dimension. First, though, they are sidetracked by the Mallusk, an enormous centipede monster who carries not only the world’s largest shopping mall on his back – he also carries Mallusk City, where old friends and foes await the gang. Action and adventure will surely abound!

Bear is a Bear by Jonathan Stutzman is a touching tale about the friendship between a young girl and Bear, a protector, dreamer, and fellow mischief-maker. With gorgeous illustrations by Dan Santat, readers will enjoy this tribute to all of our beloved childhood companions.

What’s in Your Pocket: Collecting Nature’s Treasures by Heather L. Montgomery introduces young readers to nine scientists who got their start as kids exploring the outdoors and collected “treasures” like fossils and seedpods in their pockets. Alongside illustrations by Maribel Lechuga, readers will love seeing how pockets full of treasures led to big dreams and big discoveries!

Non-Fiction

Science

Famed science writer Mary Roach is back with Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law, examining how wildlife and humans collide in a myriad of ways. Combining forensic science and conservation genetics, Roach uses research and observation to teach readers about human interaction with nature’s lawbreakers. Readers are sure to enjoy Roach’s signature humor while learning about the illegal, unethical, and sometimes murderous ways humans and wildlife collide.

History

When George Washington became president in 1789 he embarked on a journey across the thirteen original colonies to talk with citizens about the newly-formed government and to create the sense that everyone was, first and foremost, Americans. Nathaniel Philbrick took a similar journey in 2018 and documented it all in Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy. Through dual perspectives, readers learn about Washington’s 18th century journey alongside Philbrick’s 21st century one in this insightful chronicle of an adventure.

Essays

The creators of the popular website Black Nerd Problems, William Evans and Omar Holmon, bring their insights to the page in Black Nerd Problems: Essays! In this collection of essays, Evans and Holmon take on a number of topics, from pop culture touchstones like Mario Kart and The Wire, to more serious topics like representation and police brutality. This collection will surely enthrall anyone who loves a blend of social commentary and all things nerdy.

Visit our website for information on these titles and more! And don’t forget – if we don’t have a book in stock we are more than happy to order it for you, or you can visit our Bookshop page!

We hope to see you soon!

New Releases – August 31, 2021

Let’s close out August with another batch of new releases coming to The Haunted Bookshop!

Kids

Superspy-in-training Ben Ripley returns in Spy School Revolution, the eighth book in the Spy School series by Stuart Gibbs. When the CIA conference room next door is bombed, Ben is surprised to learn Erica Hale, a well-respected fellow spy-in-training, is the prime suspect. To prove Erica is not a double-agent, Ben must face the Croatoan – an evil organization so mysterious, the only proof it exists dates back to the American Revolution. How will Ben solve the mystery? Pick up this book to find out!

Two Spy School books in one week?! How lucky are we! In Spy School at Sea, the action picks up with Ben finding his nemesis Murray Hill in Central America getting ready to board the world’s biggest cruise ship, The Emperor of the Seas, as it heads out on its maiden voyage around the world. Ben poses as part of a family with Erica and his best friend Mike to board the ship and track Murray. But of course, nothing goes to plan. Enjoy this ninth book in the Spy School series!

Check out Big Nate: Aloha! the latest book in the Big Nate series by Lincoln Peirce! Because Aloha can mean both hello and goodbye, it is the perfect word to describe Nate’s current state – he doesn’t know if he’s coming or going. All of your favorite characters return for new adventures with Nate, including Nate needing to tap into his superhero side to solve a crime he witnessed at Klassic Komix.

The Table 5 gang try to find a way to keep Molly’s family from moving away in Trouble at Table 5: Countdown to Disaster, the sixth book in this series by Tom Watson. Readers will enjoy this illustrated chapter book as they watch Molly, Rosie, and Simon create a scavenger hunt to show Molly’s family how much they love their neighborhood – all before the moving trucks are set to arrive.

Friends Forever is a follow-up to Real Friends and Best Friends, the previous best-selling graphic memoirs from Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham. Shannon is in eighth grade and everything is changing. In the midst of all the chaos, Shannon struggles with insecurities, the fear of disappointing everyone, and her undiagnosed depression. Using humor, warmth, and insight, Hale and Pham give readers a reminder that we are all enough and need to love ourselves as we are.

Young Adult

In an extension of Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunters novels, Chain of Gold is the first in a new triology that follows Shadowhunter Cordelia Carstairs. When Cordelia’s father is accused of a terrible crime, she travels with her brother to London in hopes of saving the family from impending ruin. While her mother wants to marry her off, Cordelia aspires to be a hero, not a bride. When she meets up with childhood friends James and Lucie Herondale, Cordelia creates a new life for herself while in search of answers. But when a series of demon attacks shock and devastate London, Cordelia and her friends are faced with a series of challenges they have never encountered before.

Bestselling author Marie Lu returns with Skyhunter, a new YA sci-fi novel about a world broken by war and inhabited by danger around every corner. Mara is the only free nation left after the Karensa Foundation conquered twelve other kingdoms. Talin and her mother escaped the Federation and sought asylum in Mara, where they are not necessarily welcomed with open arms. Even as Mara looks like it too may fall to the Federation, Talin is not ready to give up. Check out Book One before the sequel comes out in September!

Enola Holmes is back with the latest book in the series, Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche by Nancy Springer! In this latest installment, the younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes steps in to help Letitia Glover, a distraught woman who showed up on Sherlock’s doorstep desperate for answers about her sister, Felicity. Armed with a vague note from her sister’s husband, the Earl of Dunhench, and a suspicious death certificate, Enola decides to go undercover to solve the mystery. Felicity may not be the first of the Earl’s wives to die under mysterious circumstances, and Enola feels the secret to unlocking the mystery lies with a black barouche that arrived at the Earl’s house in the middle of the night. As she digs deeper into the mystery, Enola enlists the help of a cast of characters, including her famous brother, to solve the case.

Fiction

Sci-Fi

Released in conjunction with the Apple TV+ series premiere, check out Foundation by Issac Asimov, the classic sci-fi epic that started it all. Hari Seldon is the creator of psychohistory, a revolutionary science that allows him to see into the future. As the Galactic Empire around him is dying, Hari must use his skills and gather the best minds in the Empire to preserve knowledge and save humankind. He calls this collective the Foundation. But as corrupt warlords encroach closer, the Foundation must figure out how to fight back, lest they be destroyed.

Fantasy

Master of Poisons by Andrea Hairston is an epic fantasy that brings together Hairston’s masterful prose with folklore and storytelling traditions. Djola, a spymaster of the Arkhysian Empire, is desperately trying to save his adopted homeland even though he is stuck in exile. Awa is a young woman in training to become a powerful grigot, is meanwhile discovering her powers and pushing the limits of what she can accomplish. New to this edition is a conversation between Hairston and fellow author Daniel Jose Older.

Literary

The latest from author Richard Powers, Operation Wandering Soul takes place in the pediatrics ward of a Los Angeles hospital. Resident doctor Richard Kraft and therapist Linda Espera act as surrogate parents to the young patients, tasked with keeping them alive through stories of imagination and hope, even in a place where hope is in short supply. The two spin stories of restoration and escape, but as the inevitable ends draw near, Richard and Linda must face forgotten chapters of their own lives to brace themselves for what comes next.

Horror

Why is it so fun to scare ourselves? Darryl Jones explores this phenomenon alongside classic horror stories in Horror: A Very Short Introduction. Through his exploration of genre tropes like monsters, vampires, and ghosts, Jones address why the psychological thrills and macabre scenes disturb us and how society responds to the shock. This latest installment of the Very Short Introduction series would make a great accompaniment to any scary story as we head into the season of ghost stories and campfires!

Mystery/Thriller

Described as “Shirley Jackson meets Friday the 13th,” My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones follows Jade Daniels, a young girl with an abusive father, an absent mother trying to manage life in her small town. Jade loves horror movies and uses her knowledge of the genre to make sense of Proofrock’s history. But when the blood really starts running through the Indian River, Jade uses her wealth of knowledge to predict how the plot will unfold in town. And in the process lets readers into the world of a young woman angry and desperate for a home.

The latest book from The Girl on the Train‘s Paula Hawkins, A Slow Fire Burning is an equally twisting tale of murder and revenge. When the body of a young man is discovered on a London houseboat, the lives of three women are turned upside down in the search for answers. Each has a different connection to the victim and tensions simmer below the surface as the women seek answers and revenge.

Revisit Hercule Poirot with The Big Four by Agatha Christie. In this new edition that features exclusive content from Christie, Hercule Poirot finds himself embroiled in a global conspiracy as he tries to solve the mystery of the shadowy figure who appeared at his bedroom door one night.

Romance

The Heart Principle, the latest book by Helen Hoang, introduces readers to Anna Sun, a violinist who first went viral in a YouTube video who is now struggling to recapture the magic of that first hit. In the midst of struggling with burnout, her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment. Fed up and angry, Anna decides to embark on a string of one-night stands. Enter Quan Diep, a motorcycle riding tattooed guy who upends Anna’s pursuit of reckless romantic abandon. When tragedy strikes Anna’s family, the expectations and stress threaten Anna’s and Quan’s budding relationship.

Body, Mind, and Spirit

Featuring recipes, spells, and guides for herbs and candle crafting, those interested in “the Lexicon of Witchcraft” will find Candlelight Spells by Gerina Dunwich their go-to source.

Visit our website for more information on these titles and more! And don’t forget – if we don’t have a book in stock we are more than happy to order it for you!

We hope to see you soon!

VIDEO: Tour of our Science Fiction Section

Continuing with our new series of videos to bring the bookstore into your home, here’s a video tour of our Science Fiction section! To shop our selection, go to our website at http://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com

Our regulars are familiar with our setup, but for the uninitiated, we have info panels that show the history of the genre, and we hyper-categorize our sections. So in this video you will see smaller subsections at first, like Classics, Misc. Franchises, Alternate History, etc., and then our main Science Fiction section, followed by more subcategories like Military SF. Time Travel, Local Authors of SF, and then our New Releases area of Science Fiction, award winners and finalists. Enjoy!